Sterilizer



May 23,1933. R. w. TIMMls Er A1..

STERILI ZER Filed OCb. '7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wm mmm Wm N .T WIE T W M A T n www Rm V.. v

May 23, 1933- R. w. TIMMls Er Al.

STERILIZER Filed 0G11. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. ROBERT w. mms

@No FRANK F WILLIAMS #mf 91 w ATTO EY.

3 iii Patented May 23, 1933 STTES ROBERT W. 'IMMIS AND FRANK F. WILLIAMS, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA; SAID WILLIAIVIS ASSIGNOB TO SAID TIMMIS STERILIZER Application iled October 7, 1930. Serial No.1486,940.

The invention relates to ste 1ilizer apparatus utilizing a germicidal gas asa sterilizing agent therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a sterilizer of the class described Which is designed for use Without dangerl to an operator thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sterilizer of the class described Which vis arranged to automatically perform certain yfunctions after the receptacle thereof is sealed tight.

A further object is to provide a sterilizer wherein a non-gaseous charge of a Vaporizable sterilizing agent is arranged to be gasified entirely Within the sterilizing receptacle and by a controlled heating means. A more specific object is to provide a sterilizer of the class described which is particularly designed for use in sterilizing the apparatus handled by players of golf, particular-ly when such apparatus is to be used by more than one person.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of Which, With the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of typical embodiments ofthe invention, and in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sterilizer unit embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical side section through the unit.

FigureV 8 is an enlarged vertical section through charge-delivering mechanism of the device.

Figure l is a stepped plan section at 4-4 in Figure 2. Y

Figure 5 is a perspective View of an articlereceiving basket of the sterilizer.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective vievv of a golf club supporting means of the apparatus.

Figure 7 is a diagram of an electric heater circuit of the sterilizer.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional elcvation of a modification of the sterilizer.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive is particularly arranged for the sterilizing treatment of golf clubs, golf balls, scoring pencils, and any other accessories which are handled by a player of golf. The apparatus is particularly designed for sterilizing the equipment which is handled by players at miniature golf courses, the players at such courses generally using equipment not their own and which has been, and may thereafter be, used by others. Under the latter conditions, the need for sterilizing the apparatus after a player is through With the same is obvious.

The features of the present invention are shown as applied to a sterilizing cabinet or receptacle 11 of rectangular outline, and having a cover 12 hinged thereto and arranged for sealedly closing the top opening of the receptacle. As particularly shown, the cover sealing means comprises a gasket 13 extending around the cover for engagement With the frame of the top receptacle opening, and toggle catches 14 are utilized for forcibly clamping the cover in place.

Means are provided for supporting various elements in the receptacle space for the sterilizing thereof. As shown, a golf club supporting member 15 is provided at the top of the receptacle, said member comprising a Wire grille horizontally disposed and having certain strands 16 thereof bent downwardly whereby cradles are provided for the heads of golf clubs having their handles depending through and from the member 15, the supported relation of a club to the member 15 being indicated in Figure 2. By similarly offsetting certain sets of aligned strands, as is brought out in Figures 2 and 6, the clubs may all be similarly disposed and a maximum use of the receptacle space is possible. A porous basket 17 is provided for holding golf balls, pencils, and other smaller articles in the sterilizer; as shown, said basket is of Wire mesh construction and provides a pair of compartments 1S and 19 for the respective reception of balls and pencils. rlhe member 15 and basket 17 may be supported in place in any suitable manner; as indicated, these elements are arranged to r-est on cleats provided on opposite Walls of the cabinet and near the top thereof, one of said cleats being shown at 21 in Figure 2.

Obviously, sterilization by the application of a liquid agent to the articles to be sterilized is not practical, nor could steam be well used with non-metallic golf apparatus. 'lhe present apparatus provides for a sterilization with a germicidal gas at .substantially air temperature, said gas being freed in the closed receptacle. Preferably, and as shown, means are provided for generating the within the receptacle, whereby the sterilizing unit is completely self-contained. Accordingly, an evaporating pan 22 is provided at, and centrally of, the bottom of the receptacle for receiving a charge of solid or liquid material to be vaporized for providing a gaseous sterilizing agent in the cabinet, said material arranged to be one which may bevaporized by the application of heat thereto while it is in the pan 22.

An inexpensive and generally satisfactory sterilizing gas is that of formaldehyde, and

in the present instance said gas is arranged' to be generated by the application of heat to a solid form of formaldehyde such as trioxymethylene, or paraformaldehyde. The formaldehyde generating material is preferably in the form of a ball or compressed mass 28 (Figure 8) for placement as a charge in the pan 22, and said pan is in the present instance arranged to be heated by means of an electrical heating unit 2l associated therewith.

Means are provided for etliecting a conn trolled delivery of a charge 28 to the pan 22 when and as required. frs shown, such means comprises the provision of a tubular duct 20 extending dowwnardly along a receptacle corner and to the pan, the inlet of said duct being adjacent the top of the cabinet to facilitate placement of a charge therein. A shutter or gate 25 is provided in and across the upper duct end, ,said shutter normally operative to retain the charge 23 thereabovc, as is shown in Figure 3. 'lhe shutter 25 comprises a plate slidably engaged in a transverse slot through the duct 2() and through a slot in the adjacent cabinet wall. Suitable g( s-tight packing 2G is provided where the shutter extends through the cabinet wall, and a pull handle 2? is provided at the outer shutter end. A spring 28 urges the shutter to maintain its operative and inward. position, and a manual displacement of the shutter by use ol the handle 2'? is arranged to permit the escape of the charge 28 through the registration of a shutter openin 0' 29 with the duct bore. ln this manner, the charge 23 may be released from without the cabinet when the latter is completely closed.

Means are provided whereby aclosing of the cover l2 edects an energization of the heating unit 2l. Accordingly, and as shown, a switch 3l is provided for closure by Vthe cover l2 when the latter is in closed posi-l tion. The circuit of the switch 3l and heating unit 24 also preferably includes an automatic circuit-breaking time switch 32, the latter preferably being of a temperature controlled type whereby the heater circuit is arranged to be opened after a predetermined time of operation thereof. A signal lamp 33 may also be included in the heater circuit, said lamp mounted on a cabinet wall, and arranged to be lit only while the heater is energized whereby an operator may be advised of the operative condition of the sterilizer. lt is noted that the act-ual temperature of the generated gas is substantially that of the atmosphere.

It will now be understood that when the sterilizer is to be used, the articles to be sterilized are placed in the cabinet, and a charge 23 placed in the duct 20 to rest on the shutter 25. The cover 12 is now closed whereby to seal the cabinet and close the switch 3l for energizing the heater unit 24. rlhe shutter is manually displaced to release the charge 23 therefrom, said charge falling and rolling `through the duct to the pan 22 where it is Vaporized. A screen 84: covers the pan 22 to insure the retention of the charge therein, and a perforated baftle plate 30 is provided above and adjacent the pan for insuring an even distribution of the generated gas to the cabinet space.

When sterilization is completed, the sterilizing gas is arranged to be flushed from the cabinet without opening the latter. Accordingly, a discharge opening 35 is provided in the upper cabinet portion, while an air inlet opening 36 is provided in the lower cabinet portion. As shown, the openings 35 and 86 are diagonally related, and the opening 35 communicates with a valved vent duct 37 which may discharge where desired. During sterilization, the valve 38 of the duct 37 is, of course, closed, and a door 89 at the opening 86 is also closed. Opening of the valve 38 and door 39 is arranged to effect a rapid air flushing of the cabinet, after which the cover l2 may be opened and the sterilized objects removed, an operator being at no time eX- posed to the sterilizing fumes. ,Said flushing may be entirely by convection, and a suction fan (not shown) may be provided to supplement the convection discharge of the gas.

`Where electric power is not available or desired for providing the vaporizing heat, an arrangement such as is shown in Figure 8 may be utilized. ln this instance, a pan 8l is provided for receiving a pellet of potassium permanganate, or other chemical which produces heat when water is applied thereto. A tube 82 corresponding to the duct 24 of the rst embodiment delivers the potassium permanganate pellet t0 the pan 8l from the cabinet top. A second tube 88 slopes to the pan 8l from without the cabinet, said tube having a cap 84 normally sealing its outer end. rlhe introduction of an aqueous solution of formaldehyde (said solution being known as formalin) into the pan containing the potassium permanganate charge produces the .heat necessary to evaporate the formaldehyde tor filling the cabinet 85 with formaldehyde gas.

It will, of course, be obvious, that other gases than formaldehyde may be generated and used in the now described sterilizer apparatus.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have described the principle of operation, together with the device which we now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as :tall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. In a sterilizer, a receptacle, a cover for effecting a sealed closure et the receptacle space, an evaporation cup in the said space and arranged to receive a charge ot a vaporizable chemical sterilizing agent, means to heat said cup, and means to deliver a said charge of the sterilizing agent to said cup while said cabinet is sealed completely.

2. In a steriliZer, a sealable sterilizing receptacle, an evaporation cup in said receptacle and arranged. to receive a charge o a vaporizable chemical sterilizing agent, means for gasifying a said charge in said cup, means for releasably retaining said charge in said receptacle and spaced `from said cup, means to guide the released said charge to said cup, and means actuatable from without the receptacle and while the same is completely sealed to render said charge-retaining means inoperative.

3. In a sterilizer, a sealed receptacle having a removable closure member' at the top thereof, an evaporation cup at the bottom of said receptacle and arranged to receive a charge of vaporizable chemical sterilizing agent, means to heat said cup for gasifying said charge, a tube extending entirely within said receptacle and from the top portion thereotl to said cup for conveying a said charge thereto, a shutter in said tube adjacent the upper end thereof and normally disposed to retain a said charge thereon and in the tube, and means operative from without the receptacle to displace said shutter for releasing' a said charge thereon. y

fr. In a sterilizer cabinet, a closure member for elfecting a sealed closure of the cabinet space, an evaporation cup in said receptacle and arranged to receive a charge of a vaporizable chemical sterilizing agent, an electrical heating unit to heat said cup, an electric switch arranged to be closed by and upon the operative disposal of said closure member, a normally closed time switch operative independently of the temperature in the cabinet and arranged to automatically open following a flow of electric current therethrough for a predetermined and fixed time interval, and an electric circuit including said unit and switches in series connection.

5. In a sterilizer, a sealed receptacle having a displaceable closure member at the top thereof, an evaporation cup at the bottom of said receptacle and arranged to receive a charge of a normally solid and vaporizable chemical sterilizing agent, means to heat said cup for gasifying a said charge therein, a conveyor tube extending from said cup and upwardly within said receptacle to a point adjacent the top thereof whereby to facilitate the placement of a said charge therein from the top opening of the receptacle when said closure member is displaced, a shutter in said tube adjacentthe upper tube end and normally disposed to retain a said charge thereon and in the tube, and means operative from without the receptacle to displace said shutter for releasing a said charge therefrom while said closure member is operatively disposed.

In testimony whereof, we aliX our signatures.

ROBERT W. TIMMIS. FRANK F. WILLIAMS. 

